xmessagelogger.sh

#!/bin/bash
# Logs to stdout, maintaining an xmessage based status.
# Messages starting with space are appended.
# Magic { & } 2>/dev/null stuff is to suppress job control noise.

xlog() {
  [ -n "$XM_PID" ] && { kill $XM_PID && wait $XM_PID ; } 2>/dev/null
  XM_STATE="$(uptime)"
  echo === ${XM_STATE} "$*"
  case "$*" in (' '*) XM_MESSAGE+="
$*" ;; (*) XM_MESSAGE="$*" ;; esac
  { ( xmessage -buttons '' ${XM_STATE} "$XM_MESSAGE" )& } 2>/dev/null
  XM_PID=$!
}